Get used to it, KG plays 18 mins per playoff game max.

[Big Ticket]

Ok, that's my final medical diagnosis for the playoffs.

Deducted how and with what credibility?

Please excuse my skepticism - I'm just not sure I understand where this comes from, especially considering the authoritative tone of the thread title.

-sw

And take into account that by many accounts there may not be a better example of mental strength in the NBA than Garnett. He is the living embodiment of "mind over body". I don't think the guy has ever willingly sat out with an injury in his life.

I love KG but you were very willing to throw around the hyperbole you mocked in the original post, in your most recent. By many more accounts KG has been question for his mental toughness at the end of games and he sat out the last 6 (i believe) games of his timberwolves career with, knee issues. And (i do not believe this to be true but) the living embodiment of "mind over body" probably wouldnt go 0-2 in the deciding possession of an NBA finals game.

KG sat out the last 6 games those last couple years with Minnesota because, after playing through nagging knee tendinitis for the 2nd halves of each season, the owner and management asked him to play 20 minutes a night late in the year so the young players could get some experience.  To him, that was an insult.  Clearly they were no longer trying to win, and if the young guys need experience than he'll stop playing through a painful injury.  So he didn't play.  This is where the whole "KG tanked it" Glen Taylor quote came from.

[BASS_THUMPER]

it better than nuthin...

it seems to me that cleveland will be doin battle with detroit..

lets hope that motown can wear em out a lil

and sum of kg is better than none

[Rondo_is_better]

Ok, that's my final medical diagnosis for the playoffs.

Deducted how and with what credibility?

Please excuse my skepticism - I'm just not sure I understand where this comes from, especially considering the authoritative tone of the thread title.

-sw

And take into account that by many accounts there may not be a better example of mental strength in the NBA than Garnett. He is the living embodiment of "mind over body". I don't think the guy has ever willingly sat out with an injury in his life.

I love KG but you were very willing to throw around the hyperbole you mocked in the original post, in your most recent. By many more accounts KG has been question for his mental toughness at the end of games and he sat out the last 6 (i believe) games of his timberwolves career with, knee issues. And (i do not believe this to be true but) the living embodiment of "mind over body" probably wouldnt go 0-2 in the deciding possession of an NBA finals game.

Hyperbole is everywhere. The facts are KG is a great great player and I have never seen anything from him to make me think he will give the team less then everything he can. I am holding out hope that is his usual 31 minutes a game - until I am forced to see otherwise.

Clutch shooting has nothing to do with gritting out an injury. That's one thing that stood out to me in this post.

[TitleMaster]

KG is one of those guys that would play 40 mins on crutches if we let him

If you want the guy to contribute, at 90%, for every stint on the court, then that's the last thing KG should do. Within 3-5 games at 30+ mins, he'll be limping along with increasing levels of swelling and then, his man will get past him and he'll be at a <60% effectiveness.

Give him a tighter rotation and our team will do great.

[GLS]

My two cents.....

Most of you on this board recall McHale playing on a broken foot in the 87 playoffs, in an attempt to get banner 17 (and two in a row) and consequently, the damage that he did to his foot.....and what it took off his career, we will never know. 

Point being.....while I'd love to have KG able to play 30+ minutes a game, without any pain.....and while you play to win today, because tomorrow is not certain for anyone......keep in mind, what KG gives the team in the playoffs may very well be taking away from what he can give the team next season, or the seasons to follow.

[Tai]

My two cents.....

Most of you on this board recall McHale playing on a broken foot in the 87 playoffs, in an attempt to get banner 17 (and two in a row) and consequently, the damage that he did to his foot.....and what it took off his career, we will never know. 

Point being.....while I'd love to have KG able to play 30+ minutes a game, without any pain.....and while you play to win today, because tomorrow is not certain for anyone......keep in mind, what KG gives the team in the playoffs may very well be taking away from what he can give the team next season, or the seasons to follow.

If Doc feels KG will be well enough to play the last two games of the regular season, then at the very least, let's go from there.

[xmuscularghandix]

I'd be fine with that until the Lakers, we can destroy Philly and Chicago either way, it'll be tough but we can beat Orlando as long as we have all our bigs (KG Powe Baby Powe), and we can beat Cleveland with BBD starting (we've done it)

[cdif911]

can the c's just forfeit the 1st round, I mean clearly KG won't be able to play, so why bother right?

[indeedproceed]

KG is one of those guys that would play 40 mins on crutches if we let him

If you want the guy to contribute, at 90%, for every stint on the court, then that's the last thing KG should do. Within 3-5 games at 30+ mins, he'll be limping along with increasing levels of swelling and then, his man will get past him and he'll be at a <60% effectiveness.

Give him a tighter rotation and our team will do great.

Hey, Im not sayin that he will play 30 mins from the jump. All Im sayin is that when the Celtics' playoff hopes are on the line, he won't be watching from the sidelines because Doc is limiting his mins to 18 mins per playoff game, max.

[TitleMaster]

GLS: Most of you on this board recall McHale playing on a broken foot in the 87 playoffs, in an attempt to get banner 17 (and two in a row) and consequently, the damage that he did to his foot.....and what it took off his career, we will never know.

IndeedProceed: All I'm saying is that when the Celtics' playoff hopes are on the line, he won't be watching from the sidelines because Doc is limiting his mins to 18 mins

Time out fellows.

Here's a critical difference... who was McHale's backup in '87? Greg Kite! Hmm... that's a liability, not a backup.

Today, we have a rock solid frontcourt with BBD, Perks, MM, and Powe. That's a considerable upgrade over Kite. With the above in mind, isn't it conceivable that our bigs can keep the C's in the game so that KG wouldn't need to play more than 18 mins per contest, thus being able to contribute at near 100% for every minute on the court? You see, a well managed game can have the best of both worlds, limited minutes for an injured all star but sound overall team play.

[indeedproceed]

GLS: Most of you on this board recall McHale playing on a broken foot in the 87 playoffs, in an attempt to get banner 17 (and two in a row) and consequently, the damage that he did to his foot.....and what it took off his career, we will never know.

IndeedProceed: All I'm saying is that when the Celtics' playoff hopes are on the line, he won't be watching from the sidelines because Doc is limiting his mins to 18 mins

Time out fellows.

Here's a critical difference... who was McHale's backup in '87? Greg Kite! Hmm... that's a liability, not a backup.

Today, we have a rock solid frontcourt with BBD, Perks, MM, and Powe. That's a considerable upgrade over Kite. With the above in mind, isn't it conceivable that our bigs can keep the C's in the game so that KG wouldn't need to play more than 18 mins per contest, thus being able to contribute at near 100% for every minute on the court? You see, a well managed game can have the best of both worlds, limited minutes for an injured all star but sound overall team play.

Well, while I see your points. I disagree.

Our frontcourt is more serviceable in my mind than rock solid. When other teams up their level of play, we're gonna need Garnett for more than 18mins per game.

[celticmaestro]

Ok, that's my final medical diagnosis for the playoffs.

We had the best original starting five before the injury. The key is to keep our B-team scoring, so that by the middle of Q4, the score disparity is within 2-3 possessions and the original starting five (w/ KG) can win it all from there. In other words, don't risk more than the max allotted time on a per game basis. The risk here is that any additional inflammation needs to be able to heal within a 48 hour span.

Against Chicago or Detroit maybe....but against Orlando and Cleveland, I think you're lookin at 52 minutes total played. Thats right, two positions simulatneously. And a +/- of ∞...thats right. I looked up how to make the infinity symbol just to make a hyperbolic point.

You're the man, TP IP.

[TitleMaster]

Our frontcourt is more serviceable in my mind than rock solid

Dude, the Lakers are serviceable. Just because Gasol got mad, back in X-mas, doesn't make him a tour de force.

Radmanovic is laughable and sure, I'll give Bynum his kudos, however, their big man sub is Odom, a man who refuses to live to his potential.

So granted, if Odom decides to be all-that-he-can-be that the Lakers would crush our frontline but so far, I've only seen him play at his best, during some key brain spasms, not in a consistent manner. And BTW, I do believe he's an extraordinary talent but he's got no heart.

[crownsy]

Ok, that's my final medical diagnosis for the playoffs.

We had the best original starting five before the injury. The key is to keep our B-team scoring, so that by the middle of Q4, the score disparity is within 2-3 possessions and the original starting five (w/ KG) can win it all from there. In other words, don't risk more than the max allotted time on a per game basis. The risk here is that any additional inflammation needs to be able to heal within a 48 hour span.

thanks, i'll give it as much cred  as all the other newly minted Celtic blog MD's.

That is to say, not at all.

all i care about is who's on the floor when the ball is tipped. If KG's out there, great. If not, we go to war without him. I'm tired of a new thread by a newly minted MD everyday who has the inside scoop on KG's health.

[Atzar]

My point in mind over body is that KG is one of those guys that would play 40 mins on crutches if we let him...

When I read this, a vivid image popped into my mind.  I saw KG tearing ass up the court on his crutches, and then using one of them to whack a layup attempt into the 15th row.  Did anybody else get a similar vision?